Meralco Power Academy brings power industry insights to Nueva Ecija engineering students
SEEN in photo are (L-R) Meralco Power Academy Advocacy and Communications director management Kathleen D. Dorico at the panel discussion with MGEN Renewable Energy (MGreen) president and chief executive officer Dennis B. Jordan and MGreen Talent Management Manager Sheryl C. Camarines.
Around 900 engineering students from Nueva Ecija University of Science and Technology (NEUST) gained valuable insights into the evolving power industry through PowerConvos, a lecture series of Meralco Power Academy (MPA) designed to prepare future energy professionals for the demands of the ever-evolving power industry.
Organized by the Manuel V. Pangilinan-led energy education institution, the activity showcased perspectives from industry experts on the challenges and opportunities within the industry and the skills needed by aspiring engineers to thrive in their careers.
Among the speakers last September were One Meralco leaders from the distribution utility, retail electricity supply, and power generation businesses.
Beyond career guidance, PowerConvos aims to also impart values including resilience, adaptability, and passion for one’s work. Through stories and experiences from industry practitioners, students gained practical lessons on navigating the transition from the classroom to the workplace and building meaningful careers in the energy sector.
Emphasizing the value of character alongside academic achievement, MPower Senior vice president and head Redel Domingo encouraged students to develop qualities that will help them succeed beyond the classroom: “Your grade measures how you took a test on a day. Your character measures how you solve the problems when no one gives you the formula,” he said.
Meanwhile, MGreen president and chief executive officer Dennis Jordan shared that one of the highlights of his career is leading the country’s largest integrated solar PV and battery facility, MTerra Solar which he called an engineering feat.
“We put up two substations — a 230 kV substation and one 230 to 500 kV substation. And probably one of the biggest facilities in the world, in terms of that. We did not build this today. I will not be around to see all the years that this plant will be designed to run. This facility will continue to provide power to the communities,” he said.
As the energy industry continues to evolve, the ability to make meaningful contributions also depends on the knowledge and discipline developed through education. Meralco Vice President and deputy head of Integrated Asset Management Ma. Cecilia Domingo, for her part, emphasized that education is key to forming competitive energy professionals: “Real-life situations can be challenging, but our discipline should have equipped us to face those challenges,” she said.
PowerConvos provides students with a unique opportunity to engage directly with industry leaders and technical experts, allowing them to gain firsthand insights into industry developments, emerging trends, and the competencies required in today’s energy landscape.
Through initiatives such as PowerConvos and its continuing partnerships with academic institutions, MPA remains committed to bridging the gap between education and industry, helping equip aspiring engineers with the knowledge and skills needed to become the future leaders of the country’s energy sector.